1.) Law abiding citizens are banned from owning guns, yet the city has one of the highest crime and murder rates in the country.2.) Citizen-slaves are banned from recording police encounters and politicians. They claim its "illegal wire tapping", when in reality it is to perpetuate corruption and abuse.3.) Corrupt at all levels of government. Hell, their last governor is sitting in jail for trying to sell Obama's empty seat.4.) Being let go for taking too small of a bribe....? Seriously? Wow.

I have lived in many places and never have I experienced the ability to spin a denial so ingrained into a region's culture as I have here. I am sure it exists elsewhere, but this is par for the course in this area and Chicago takes it a step further and elevates it to an art form.

mauricecano:You apparently didn't read the article, it's $5,000. The guy didn't get $5,000 so there was zero violation of the law as it is not considered a crime until you reach that threshold. The prosecutors knew this and tries a novel theory of the mortgage value which I think the court correctly rejected.

If this is the same as US law (18 USC § 666) it's not the value of the bribe that counts, but the value of the transaction to which the bribe applies.

So if you gave or accepted a $1000 bribe to influence a $1,000,000 contract, the fact that it's a million-dollar contract causes it to exceed the $5000 minimum. On the other hand, it would be legal (if stupid) to give a million-dollar bribe to influence a thousand-dollar contract.

That's why they were trying to use the property value of the houses in their arguments.

Nickster79:Slaxl: So what's the minimum illegal bribe level? Is it cumulative? Can you promise someone $600 a day bribe until they've had $50,000 from you?

Someone needs to make a chart.

The law they prosecuted him under sets the amount at $5000. If he didn't accept at least that much, then he didn't violate that particular law. If there is another law that sets a lower amount, then they should have prosecuted him under that one.